At a glance
- Hurzeler’s Brighton tactics explained
- Van Hecke, Minteh and Gross’ impact
- European qualification hopes
Brighton’s resurgence in the Premier League is not the result of a simple uptick in form, it is the product of a clear tactical evolution under Fabian Hurzeler.
Just months ago, Brighton were struggling. A run of one win in 13 league matches exposed a lack of cohesion, with the side looking disjointed both in and out of possession. The ideas were there, but they were not connecting. And as a result, Brighton were in 14th position by February.
The foundation of Hurzeler’s approach has always been aggressive pressing, but the difference in recent weeks is how effectively it feeds into the rest of Brighton’s structure.
From Disjointed to Structured
Rather than pressing aimlessly, Brighton now press with purpose. They force opposition teams into rushed decisions, win the ball high, and immediately look to attack before defensive shapes can reset. It is a strategy designed to create what can best be described as advantageous possession. These are situations where Brighton regain the ball in positions that already resemble attacking transitions.
In possession, the structure has also become far more defined. Brighton build with centre-backs that split wide and a single pivot in midfield anchoring the first phase. Ahead of that, central areas are overloaded, often with a dropping forward and rotating midfielders operating between the lines.
This is deliberate. Brighton invite pressure into these central zones, encouraging opposition teams to press. Once that pressure is triggered, they accelerate play, breaking lines quickly through sharp, vertical passing.
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The Van Hecke Effect
At the heart of this is Jan Paul van Hecke. The centre-back has become Brighton’s primary tempo controller, dictating when to speed the game up or slow it down. His ability to step forward, play progressive passes, and then move into midfield himself creates constant dilemmas for opposition players.
This links directly to one of Brighton’s most effective mechanisms: rotation. Players are rarely static. Midfielders drop into deeper positions, others push forward into half-spaces, and full-backs time their movements to arrive into space rather than occupy it early. The result is a fluid structure that makes it extremely difficult to mark.
Instead of avoiding pressure, Brighton are actively attracting it.
By circulating possession in deeper areas, they invite the press before suddenly accelerating through central spaces. These moments create what are essentially artificial transitions, allowing Brighton to attack against unsettled defensive structures.
The Key Roles of Minteh and Gross
Once those lines are broken, the focus shifts wide. Yankuba Minteh has become a key outlet, frequently receiving in isolated positions where he can attack defenders directly. On the opposite flank, Brighton have adapted by using full-backs dynamically, alternating between holding width and driving inside.
The final piece of the puzzle has been midfield balance. The return of Pascal Gross has provided a level of control that was previously missing. His ability to dictate tempo, connect phases, and find wide players early has brought stability to a system that previously felt rushed.
Now, everything links together. Earlier in the season, these elements existed independently. Now, they function as a connected system and that is why Brighton once again look like a side capable of securing European football.
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